Jason Reitman and top Hollywood directors are buying Los Angeles’ beloved Village Theater
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Some of Hollywood’s most prominent filmmakers have purchased an iconic 93-year-old theater known as a cultural landmark for Los Angeles moviegoers.
Jason Reitman along with more than 30 directors including Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan and Bradley Cooper have taken over the Westwoods Village Theater, the group announced Wednesday. The coalition wants to preserve the theatre, which has been a mainstay for film premieres since the venue opened in 1931.
Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
Reitman said he felt compelled to bring together other filmmakers after the theater was put up for sale last year. As a Los Angeles native, he wants to expand the rich history of the Village Theater, known for its 170-foot (52-meter) white Spanish tower and large auditorium that seats 1,300 people. It is also located near UCLA.
“I made an offer right away, hoping my fellow directors would join me on this adventure,” Reitman said in a statement. He noted that some of his films, including Up in the Air, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Juno, have premiered in theaters.
“We take this administration very seriously and hope to provide a real community for anyone who loves movies,” he added.
Directors will display artifacts from their personal collections in the theater, including props, wardrobe and film prints.
Chris Columbus, who directed “Home Alone” and “Harry Potter,” expects to share his extensive collection of 16mm film prints. He described the theater as a “cinematic miracle.”
Spielberg said he wanted to help return the theater to its “glory years as a cultural institution of cinema.”
“Cinema has always been the place where filmmakers and moviegoers come together, and I’m thrilled to be collaborating with so many of my favorite directors in a space that will showcase what the future of film exhibition can be,” Nolan added.
Other new owners include: JJ Abrams, Judd Apatow, Damien Chazelle, Ryan Coogler, Alfonso Cuaron, Jonathan Dayton, Guillermo del Toro, Valerie Faris, Hannah Fidel, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, James Gunn, Sian Hyder, Rian Johnson, Jill Keenan . Karen Kusama, Justin Lin, Phil Lord, David Lowery, Christopher McQuarrie, Chris Miller, Alexander Payne, Todd Phillips, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Jay Roach, Seth Rogen, Emma Seligman, Brad Silberling, Emma Thomas, Denis Villeneuve, Lulu Wang and Chloe Ciao.
